· cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., `keep clean'; "hold in place"; "She always held herself as a lady"; "The students keep me on my toes"

Synonym(s): keep, hold

· keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction; "We preserve these archeological findings"; "The old lady could not keep up the building"; "children must be taught to conserve our national heritage"; "The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts"

Synonym(s): conserve, preserve, keep_up

Hypernym(s): keep

· supply with necessities and support; "She alone sustained her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause"; "There's little to earn and many to keep"

Synonym(s): sustain, keep

Hypernym(s): have, have_got, hold

· state categorically

Synonym(s): assert, asseverate

Hypernym(s): insist, take_a_firm_stand

· have and exercise; "wield power and authority"

Synonym(s): wield, exert

Hypernym(s): have, have_got, hold

· maintain for use and service; "I keep a car in the countryside"; "She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips"

Synonym(s): keep

Hypernym(s): have, have_got, hold

· maintain by writing regular records; "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes"

Synonym(s): keep

Hypernym(s): record, enter, put_down

· state or assert; "He maintained his innocence"

Synonym(s): defend

Hypernym(s): affirm

· support against an opponent; "The appellate court upheld the verdict"

Synonym(s): uphold

Hypernym(s): confirm, reassert

· stick to correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees"

Synonym(s): observe, keep